ESPN Announces Special NFL Programming Schedule Leading Up To NFL Draft

April 3, 2018 by: admin

Courtesy: ESPN

By Philip Sayblack

The countdown to the 2018 NFL Draft is on, and in anticipation, ESPN is doing its part to build anticipation for the big pre-season weekend.

ESPN announced Tuesday a schedule consisting of more than 40 hours of original NFL programming leading up to the big event later this month. It all starts tonight at 10 p.m. on ESPN2 with the new limited weekly series Inside The EA Sports Madden Ultimate League and continues Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 with SportsCenter Special: Mel and Todd’s Dueling Mocks.

Inside The EA Sports Madden Ultimate League takes audiences behind the scenes of what has become one of the NFL’s biggest e-sports competitions — Madden NFL ’18. Viewers will be introduced to the tournament’s competitors who will be vying for the first-ever Ultimate League championship and part of a $500,000 cash prize.

In the second night of coverage leading up to the draft, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay go toe-to-toe with their mock drafts in an hour-long SportsCenter special. Suzy Kolber will anchor the broadcast. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter will also be on hand throughout the broadcast for additional insight and commentary.

The second week of the ESPN networks’ special NFL draft leadup coverage opens April 10 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2 in Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL. Produced by NFL Films, this four-part series follows soon-to-be NFL rookies Saquon Barkley and Bardley Chubb as they wind down their college football careers in preparation for professional careers on the gridiron. It will be followed at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 by SportsCenter Special: Draft Room Simulation.

SportsCenter Special: Draft Room Simulation is an hour-long presentation that takes audiences behind the scenes of what happens in each team’s war room on draft day. Trey Wingo will anchor the broadcast. He will be joined by NFL Hall of Famer and former NFL General Manager Bill Polian, former NFL Director of Pro Personnel Louis Riddick, NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay and NFL reported Field Yates. Yates also formerly worked in coaching and scouting with the Patriots and Chiefs.

The second week of the ESPN networks’ buildup to the draft winds down April 12 at 7 p.m. on ESPN with We The Fans: Dallas. This four-part-series follow a dozen Cowboys fans over the course of the 2017 season. Replays of the hour-long episodes will be available via the ESPN app and ESPN Video on Demand.

The third and fourth week of the ESPN networks’ special NFL programming schedule includes additional special episodes of SportsCenter, NFL Matchup and College GameDay. The ESPN networks’ full pre-draft programming schedule is noted below.

More information on the ESPN networks’ NFL coverage is available online now along with all of the latest NFL headlines at: